Currently we use the blanket term PPS as a way of explaining why hermit crabs die so soon after purchase. PPS or Post Purchase Stress
The use of the word stress has always bothered me as it implies a mental or emotional state of mind. Really the method is designed to reduce post purchase death due to physical stress on the hermit crab’s body due to lack of care prior to coming home with you.
I also don’t like the term ‘destress’. Really it should be more like recuperate or recover. I would like to move away from using the term destress. It again implies a mental or emotional state when what we are dealing with is physical stress on the hermit crab’s body from harvest/transport/handling.
So going forward PPS will be PPDS (Post Purchase Death Syndrome)
The PPS Reduction Method will be PPD Reduction Care – this is a little more self explanatory about the process we utilize to slowly acclimate the hermit crab to appropriate conditions.
I consulted an invertebrate veterinarian in 2019 to review and possibly improve our method. You can find the current version and why we recommend it here: